WHIMBREL II: ON 113263 23grt 9nrt 57.3 x 10.6 x 6.1ft wood hull; blt 1900 Simpson Strickland & Co, Dartmouth (Yd …); eng Q4cy vert. inv. d-a surf-cond 5”7¼”10¾”16”x7” 15nhp 1scr by shipbuilder; 1900 completed for William Cross, Kingswear, engineer, as WHIMBREL II (reg Dartmouth); 1908 (17 Jun) sold to Smith’s Docks Co, S Shields; 1910 (Jan) sold to Tyne Improvement Commission - registration was closed, but re-opened 1912 at Newcastle as T.I.C. PATROL; 1916 sank after collision, later raised and broken up (registry closed 1918).David Asprey commented on this: I have no evidence that she worked on the Tyne for Smith's Dock Ltd. (the company's address was of course at S Shields). The TIC material revealed by Neil Mearns points clearly to the Tees. It seems to me that WHIMBREL II was most likely purchased to assist with the construction phase of the new yard at South Bank.

Neil Mearns provided these photos:Photo of the Steam Launch, WHIMBREL II. It appeared in "The Engineer" on 9th August, 1901 and seems to be a publicity picture taken on behalf of her builders, Simpson, Strickland & Co., Ltd., Dartmouth, Engineers, who completed her the previous year.

This photo provided by Neil Mearns shows the PATROL (or T.I.C. PATROL), ex Whimbrel II, while in service for the Tyne Improvement Commissioners. Photo taken at South Shields in 1910.

To quote from the minutes of the Tyne Improvement Commission ".... the Secretary reported that the launch "Whimbrel II" had been inspected in Smith's Dock Company's Dry Dock on the Tees and found to be in order, and that the launch had, therefore, been taken over on behalf of the Commissioners and was brought round to the Tyne on 31st January [1910]."

Previous minutes refer to an offer having been made to Smith's Dock Co. Ltd. to purchase the launch and to the cost of bringing the vessel round from the Tees to the Tyne.

The following extract is taken from the Tyne Improvement Commission casualty reports:"About 2.50 p.m. on the 9th ultimo [December, 1916], the Commissioners' steam launch PATROL , of the River Police Department, was lying moored at South Shields, alongside of the S.S. GLOW WORM, which in turn was lying alongside of the S.S. EDITH, at the Engine Works Quay of J.P. Rennoldson and Sons Ltd, when the S.S. ARGYLE, proceeding up river, took a sheer and collided with the launch which sank at her moorings. Time of tide: about high water slack. Weather: strong east-south-easterly breeze and rain. The launch was lifted on the following day and removed to Howdon Yard."

You might also be interested in the following account which relates to an earlier sinking of the PATROL:

"About 9.20 a.m. on the 3rd instant [August, 1912], the River Police Launch, PATROL was making for the steps at the east end of the Corporation Quay, South Shields, when she was struck by the screw wherry, POODLE, owned by the Tyne-Tees Steamshipping Co. Ltd., Newcastle-upon-Tyne. The POODLE was leaving the east end of the Harton Coal Co's Staiths, and had proceeded as far as the west end of the staiths when the collision occurred. When it was observed that the PATROL was in a sinking condition, she was taken in tow by the tug, SCALPA and towed inshore. The PATROL, sank just inside of the holding off buoy belonging to the South Shields Corporation, Off the Mill Dam Quay, South Shields, with about 10 feet of water over her at low water, ordinary spring tides. The Commissioners' wreck marking vessel was placed in position. The PATROL was lifted on the 4th instant [August, 1912] by means of Commissioners' craft and after being temporarily repaired, alongside of the Mill Dam Quay, she was removed to Howdon Yard, after which the wreck marking vessel was removed."